attorney. you have you have heard of this gentleman lev parnas. an associate of rudy giuliani. >> only what i read recently. >> recently indicted. mr. parnas told a representative of the incoming government, the zelensky government, that it had to announce an investigation into trump's political rival, joseph r. biden and his son, or else vice president mike pence would not attend the swearing in of the new president and the united states would freeze aid. did the vice president not attend possibly because this investigation had not yet been initiated by the zelensky government? >> i have no idea. >> you can't rule it out, right? >> again, i have no idea. >> you have no basis for ruling it out, however, correct? >> all i know is that the leader of the delegation was secretary perry, who invited me along. >> interestingly, ambassador sondland, since you came forward in these proceedings, others in the administration have tried to distance themselves from you.